HC issues notices over lawyers' group insurance

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan High Court has issued notices to state law secretary, secretary, Bar Council of Rajasthan, secretary, Rajasthan Advocate Welfare Fund Committee and Life Insurance Corporation, through the regional manager, Jaipur, over non-implementation of the group insurance for lawyers as per the Rajasthan Advocate Welfare Fund Act, 1987.
The notices were returnable by December 14.
The petitioner Lokesh Sharma pointed out that as per the balance sheet on March 2013 not a single penny has been spent for life or medical insurance of the members of the fund despite the Bar Council of Rajasthan (RCR) being cash rich.
In the year 2012-13, the income from interest, sale of stamps, subscription and other heads was around Rs 9 crore whereas the expenditure under the head of assistance to member on account of death, retirement, ex-gratia was only Rs 1.56 crore.
Even after meeting other expenses for salary, etc., the total expenditure was less than Rs 2 crore and, thus, Rs 7.2 cr was added to the general fund of the Rajasthan Advocate Welfare Fund which on March 2013 stood at Rs 45 crore.
The counsels for the petitioner Vigyan Shah and Sunil Kumar Jain stated that, "from the above facts it is clear that BCR is having sufficient fund available to float a group insurance with LIC to ensure safety and security in case of mishaps to its members. It is unfortunate that the BCR, state government and LIC have not taken any such step which actually vitiates the basic purpose of enacting Rajasthan Advocate Welfare Act 1987".